Grilled Lemonade

I went to Kansas City for the 2014 American Royal BBQ Competition and was lucky enough to be invited to the opening party to hang out with barbecue royalty. Things got blurry quite quickly and I put that solely down to the delicious, tangy, smoky-sweet, bourbon-laced, grilled lemonade they were serving up by the gallon. I loved it and have upped the game a little with the addition of fresh ginger and mint. Bourbon is the spirit of choice here, but this recipe also kicks ass with rum. Or try adding a glug of triple sec.

Ingredients

MAKES around 2 litres

GINGER SYRUP

For the ginger stock syrup
200g/7oz sugar
400ml/13½ fl oz water
2cm piece of ginger, sliced very thinly or blitzed in a blender

LEMONADE

250g/9oz soft brown sugar
3kg/6lb 10oz lemons, halved
250ml/8½ fl oz bourbon
1.5 litres (3 pints) water or lemonade
1 handful of mint leaves, plus extra to garnish
Slices of lemon, to garnish

Method

1. First make the ginger stock syrup. Put the sugar and ginger in a saucepan with the water, stir until mixed together and bring almost to the boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer over a medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

2. To make the lemonade, pour the brown sugar into a small baking tin and push the lemons, cut-side down, into it until evenly coated. Place the lemons on the grill, sugar-side down, over medium direct heat for 3-4 minutes until the sugar caramelises, but do not let it burn or it will become bitter. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Squeeze the lemons through a strainer into a large bowl. Discard the skins and any pips.

3. Strain the ginger from the stock syrup and add 200ml/7 fl oz of the syrup to the bowl and mix well. Check for sweetness at this point and add honey, if needed.

4. Now add the water (or lemonade) and bourbon.

5. Half fill a pitcher with ice and the mint leaves. Top up with the grilled lemonade and stir well. Serve in glasses over ice, garnished with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon.

More Recipes Ideas from Jon Finch

Method

1. First make the ginger stock syrup. Put the sugar and ginger in a saucepan with the water, stir until mixed together and bring almost to the boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer over a medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

2. To make the lemonade, pour the brown sugar into a small baking tin and push the lemons, cut-side down, into it until evenly coated. Place the lemons on the grill, sugar-side down, over medium direct heat for 3-4 minutes until the sugar caramelises, but do not let it burn or it will become bitter. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Squeeze the lemons through a strainer into a large bowl. Discard the skins and any pips.

3. Strain the ginger from the stock syrup and add 200ml/7 fl oz of the syrup to the bowl and mix well. Check for sweetness at this point and add honey, if needed.

4. Now add the water (or lemonade) and bourbon.

5. Half fill a pitcher with ice and the mint leaves. Top up with the grilled lemonade and stir well. Serve in glasses over ice, garnished with a sprig of mint and a slice of lemon.

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